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Poster:
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Purple Gel |
Date:
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September 21, 2006 11:40:04am |
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Forum:
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GratefulDead
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Subject:
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Re: Favorite Venue |
Loved Kaiser as well, althought I only attended shows there when it was called Oakland Aud Arena.
Park West was real nice too, loved sittin on the ski slope.
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Poster:
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jhender501 |
Date:
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September 21, 2006 11:44:37am |
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Forum:
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GratefulDead
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Subject:
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Re: Favorite Venue |
I used to love the Carousel Ballroom..saw a couple shows there way back when. I eventually settled on the east coast and came to love The Knick in Albany. That would have to be my favorite indoor venue. Only saw a few outdoor shows here..Oxford Plains, ME would be at the top.
Jim
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Poster:
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SDH2O |
Date:
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September 21, 2006 11:56:31am |
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Forum:
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GratefulDead
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Subject:
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Re: Favorite Venue |
Those Oxford shows were huge and I loved the area that the place is in, but I can't say that I particularly loved the facility (for those not familiar Oxford Plains is an older race track and the stage was on one end of the infield). There was a good amount of space in the back, however. My folks retired to Freeport and I love getting back there whenever possible.
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Poster:
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grendelschoice |
Date:
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September 21, 2006 12:04:35pm |
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Forum:
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GratefulDead
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Subject:
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Re: Favorite Venue |
I liked the general-admission-ness of Hampton, VA.
Boston Garden was also a favorite--I liked the way its asymmetrical weirdness and jutting overhangs fit with the Dead's unorthodox approach. Also, i'm a long-suffering but devoted Bruins fan, and nothing was cooler than seeing Jerry wailing away underneath the #4 banner for Bobby Orr, the greatest defenseman who ever laced 'em up.
Probably the "warmest" venue for aesthetic surroundings would be Alpine Valley, WI. Saw the '89 summer shows there...and SPAC in Saratoga is nice, too...
Have a soft spot for the "mausoleum" aka Nassau Coliseum, but only b/c I saw my first show there (and many others). Ugly building, though. Come to think of it, most places I saw the Dead were non-descript indoor or mega-outdoor arenas.
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Poster:
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jhender501 |
Date:
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September 21, 2006 12:12:20pm |
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Forum:
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GratefulDead
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Subject:
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Re: Favorite Venue |
I loved Boston Garden as well, but..after the last show of the 91 run, and the severely altered state I was in, leaving the show and stepping out into the so called real world and the police presence therein was an experience I would prefer not to repeat.
Jim
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Poster:
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SDH2O |
Date:
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September 21, 2006 12:28:05pm |
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Forum:
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GratefulDead
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Subject:
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Re: Favorite Venue |
That would also have to be a very important criteria: How harsh is the transition from show to "real world"? This is why I love Red Rocks so much. Coming out of the show, you are still in an incredible place with nothing around you but other Heads (security was very discreet when I went, I don't remember even being aware of them)
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Poster:
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cush11 |
Date:
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September 21, 2006 12:32:42pm |
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Forum:
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GratefulDead
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Subject:
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Re: Favorite Venue |
One year we were swept from Red Rocks by a line of swat team the width of the parking lot complete with helmets, shields dogs and all. Other than that time though it was always pretty mellow...
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Poster:
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SDH2O |
Date:
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September 21, 2006 12:38:04pm |
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Forum:
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GratefulDead
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Subject:
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Re: Favorite Venue |
Damn, that sucks. Sounds like what I ran into at Richmond in 85. Sorry for the immense buzzkill, is that your only experience there? Hate to see a great place trashed by overzealous storm troopers.
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Poster:
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orchiddoctor |
Date:
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September 21, 2006 12:10:57pm |
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Forum:
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GratefulDead
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Subject:
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Re: Favorite Venue |
I remember going to see this scruffy bunch of crazy musicians at the Cafe A GoGo in New York in 1967. Damn it was loud. The place was downstairs from the Garrick Theater where Frank Zappa's Mother's were the house band at the time. You'd walk down a stairwell where the walls were oozing with dayglo paint under black lights a la Jackson Pollack on acid. Such strange odors; such a smokey room. Such LOUD music. Viola Lee Blues, the nascent Alligator. Whew. I was all of fifteen at the time; it left an impression that will never fade away. Of course, there were also all those fabulous moments at the Fillmore East and the Academy of Music run--sitting on the lip of the balcony looking down at the tie dyed speakers and Pig Pen sitting behind the organ.
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Poster:
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unclejohnnyd |
Date:
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September 21, 2006 12:23:32pm |
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Forum:
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GratefulDead
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Subject:
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Re: Favorite Venue |
gonna be hard to top someone who's seen them in their prime at small venues.
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Poster:
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SactownTom |
Date:
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September 21, 2006 12:25:48pm |
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Forum:
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GratefulDead
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Subject:
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Re: Favorite Venue |
I've been lurking for awhile now, and this thread kinda called out to me. Agreed that it's tough to top the Carousel or the Cafe Au Go Go (!) I was active from 77 to 91, mostly in the Bay, so my faves are sort of provincial.
Loved the Oakland Aud (it'll always be the Aud to me)--saw more shows there than anywhere else.
The Greek and the Frost--tough call, both great with many great shows.
Winterland--Where I "got it"--6/9/77 (how could I not?)
Red Rocks--only saw one run (83),but that was enough
Honorable mention: Warfield, Cal Expo, MacArthur Ct, Ventura
Well, I guess I'm out of the closet now. I look forward to being a more active participant.
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